by Hamel, B. B.
She was mine and she was worth fighting for.
I tugged down her yoga pants, revealed her pink pussy, glimmering for me. I pushed her legs open and licked her, sucked her, rolled my tongue around her swollen clit. Her breasts bounced with every moan and gasp and it drove me wild. I reached up and teased them with one hand while the other slipped fingers inside.
I pushed her and tasted her, took her with my tongue and fingers, drove her wild. I wanted to fuck her—wanted to slide myself between her legs and feel her warmth wrap around me—but I didn’t think she was ready, not yet. She needed more time, needed more convincing, and I was a patient man.
I was a hungry man.
“Oh, my god, Gavin,” she gasped. “How are you so good at that? Oh, fuck.”
I pressed my fingers deep and smirked up at her. “It’s easy when you’re so obvious. I lick you like this, you gasp. I touch you like this, you moan. I can read your body, and I keep giving you what you want, nothing more or less.”
“Fuck,” she whispered, grabbing my hair. “I never want you to stop, god, I want you to keep doing this, over and over, forever. I could come like this forever.”
“I want to taste it,” I whispered, tongue working again. “I want to taste you again. Come on, Erica. Give me what I want.”
I went faster, and her gasps, her moans filled my ears. She rolled her hips and arched her back and she was glorious, she was beautiful, she was incredible, and fuck, I knew I was in this for real, I knew I was in this for the long haul, forever if she’d let me. I’d never walk away, not until I got enough of her—and I’d never reach that point, I knew it, I knew it as she came for me, came with her whole body, my tongue lapping her up, licking her up, taking her all the way.
She gasped and breathed hard as I moved back and cleaned her off my fingers.
“Good girl,” I said with a smirk.
“Oh, god.” She leaned her head back against the arm of the couch and laughed, one hand on her breast, the other above her head. Her hair was spread out around her and she looked so beautiful as she clenched her legs together. “Oh my god, that was good.”
I stood up and stared at her. I wished I could picture that moment forever, the way the light hit, the way she touched herself. It was too perfect.
“I should go to sleep. I have a meeting tomorrow.”
“Yeah?” She gave me a lazy smile. “Sounds good.”
“I think you should come with me.”
“Okay, sure.” She closed her eyes. “Whatever you want, doc.”
I laughed and walked to the steps. She pulled up her yoga pants but stayed sprawled there, grinning to herself.
I left her there and went upstairs to my room to make a few phone calls. The taste of her still lingered on my tongue, and I knew that would be enough to keep me going for a while.
18
Erica
Gavin parked across the street from a quaint-looking bakery with no sign out front. The windows were large and empty of signs, and the door was metal mixed with wood. A young couple covered in tattoos walked inside, laughing to each other.
“I thought you said this was about Cosimo?” I asked him, frowning at the place.
He smiled a little. “It is, trust me.” He leaned around and grabbed a black duffel bag from the back.
“What’s in that, anyway?” I nodded at it.
“Ten thousand dollars.” He opened his door and stepped out, closing it behind him.
I sighed and leaned my head back. This man was insane. He hadn’t told me much about this meeting except that it had to do with my situation, and it might be dangerous. He told me I didn’t need to come, and probably shouldn’t, but I knew that if it was about me then I should show up. I couldn’t expect him to stick his neck out there if I wasn’t willing to try too.
He stalked across the street and I followed. We went into the bakery and right away I smelled coffee and fresh bread. It was delicious, and I couldn’t help but smile. The decor was a simple mix of metal and wood with a big display case at the back, and stacks of baskets filled to the brim with loaves of bread. It looked incredibly delicious, and a bored-looking kid stood behind the counter, staring down at his phone.
Gavin hesitated, looking around the room. I wasn’t sure who we were supposed to meet, and he looked slightly confused, like he wasn’t sure either. There were a few full tables—one with several big guys in dark suits, one of them reading a paper, the others looking bored and drinking coffees—but otherwise it seemed like a pretty normal coffee place.
He approached the counter and I hurried to keep up. The bored kid looked up, and couldn’t have been older than twenty at most. “What can I get for you?” he asked.
“Coffees for both of us,” Gavin said. “Americano for me. Cappuccino for her. And one of those scones, please.”
The kid nodded and got to work. Gavin watched him then glanced at me. I stepped closer, frowning. “Who are we meeting with?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
“Not sure,” he said, and I wanted to task more, but the kid came back.
“That’ll be fourteen even,” he said.
Gavin took out twenty. “Listen, I’m looking for a guy named Dante. Is he here right now?”
The kid frowned at Gavin and took the bill. He slipped it into the register and didn’t bring out the change. “Yeah, he’s here.” Gavin waited, took out another twenty, and gave it to the kid. He grinned and shoved it in his pocket. “He’s reading the paper over there. But I gotta warn you, he hates being disturbed before he’s done with the first section.”
“I’ll take that risk. Thanks.” Gavin took his coffee and the scone then headed over to the table of big guys in suits. I took my drink and the kid grinned at me.
I felt scared as hell as Gavin approached. All four guys looked up and stared at him, and the guy named Dante lowered the paper. He was a big man, dark hair, light eyes, and handsome, but he had a hard look to him, like he’d seen some things and they’d left a lasting mark.
“Excuse me,” Gavin said, “My name is Dr. Gavin Majors. I’m looking for Dante.”
The man with the paper leaned forward. “I’m Dante. You’re a doctor?”
“I work at Mercy General.”
“I’ve been there before. Nice place.” Dante put the paper down. “What can I do for you, doctor?” He gestured at the chair across from him, and his associate stood then sat at the next table over. I got the sense that was something they did a lot, and they didn’t need to discuss it.
Gavin hesitated, but sat down. He kept the duffel at his feet. I stood behind him, shifting from foot to foot, and Dante didn’t ask me to sit.
“I was hoping you could help me with a problem,” Gavin said. “Does a man named Cosimo work for you?”
Dante frowned slightly. “He might, he might not. Sort of depends on what you want.”
“My wife here owes him some money,” Gavin said, “and I was hoping you’d give it to him.”
Dante laughed. “Why the fuck would I do that? If you have business with Cosimo, go to Cosimo.” He went to pick up his paper again.
Gavin slid the duffel under the table to Dante’s side. “Please. Cosimo’s been very unreasonable about our situation. See, he thinks he can take payment from my wife, instead of from my bank account. Do you understand what I mean?”
Dante looked up again and his eyes narrowed. “I think I do.”
“That bag has a down payment. You can consider it a gesture of good will toward you, if you want, and more money is coming if only Cosimo would be a little more reasonable.”
“Interesting.” Dante frowned up at me and I felt his eyes stare through mine, like he was weighing me against something. I didn’t like it, and looked down at the floor, heart racing. I had the feeling we’d stepped into a viper’s den and at any moment the snakes would lunge for our throats. “Cosimo is one of my better workers, but I know sometimes he can be a little bit… unreasonable.”
“I’m not trying
to start anything,” Gavin said. “I only want to pay what we owe him and move on with our lives.”
“So you come to me, thinking that I can talk sense into him.” Dante shook his head. “How did you even find out about me?”
Gavin opened his mouth then shut it again. “I’m not supposed to say.”
Dante barked a laugh. “Okay then. I guess it doesn’t matter.” He leaned down and unzipped the duffel. Bundles of cash poked out. He nodded to himself and closed it. “That’s what, ten grand?”
“Exactly.” Gavin laughed softly. “You’re good at that.”
“Comes with the job.” Dante leaned back and stared at me again then looked down to Gavin. “The problem is, Cosimo isn’t a good listener. I feel for you, I truly do, but Cosimo goes his own way. I don’t have direct control over him.”
“I understand. Whatever help you can offer would be good.”
“You work at Mercy General, correct?” Dante leaned forward. “I was wondering, doc. What if a few patients appeared at your doorstep? Mutual friends, you understand. What if you were to take care of them, without asking questions?”
“I couldn’t do that at the hospital,” Gavin said, and Dante looked disappointed, but he kept talking. “But I could meet them somewhere else. Perhaps at my house, or at a mutually agreed upon location.”
Dante smiled again. “That would work.”
“But Cosimo needs to leave Erica alone.”
“I feel for you, doctor, so I’ll tell you what. I’ll speak to Cosimo, tell him about your offer, and we’ll go from there. Does that sound reasonable?”
“That sounds reasonable.”
“Good. Now go enjoy your coffee and your scone. It’s a nice day out today. I wouldn’t want to get in a knife fight on such a nice afternoon.”
Dante’s smile sent a chill down my spine. Gavin stood up slowly, calmly, gathered his things, and walked to the door. I hurried to follow, barely keeping it together as we stepped back out onto the sidewalk.
He didn’t walk to his car. Instead, he stalked away from the building, going north. I kept up, barely thinking, and he turned to me when we reached the corner.
“He knew,” Gavin said. “He fucking knew about it all.”
“The knife fight comment.” I felt my blood drain from my extremities.
“I don’t understand what kind of game he’s playing.”
“Do you think he’ll help?”
“I don’t know.” Gavin’s eyes were hard and he shook his head. “I’m afraid Cosimo isn’t going to listen to reason, and I’m going to have to do something drastic.”
I reached out automatically and grabbed his arm. “You’re not doing something stupid.”
He looked at me and shook his head. “Don’t worry.”
“Gavin—”
“I’m fine. I’m not going to get myself killed.” He stepped close and kissed my cheek. “Come on, let’s go for a walk. I have some energy I want to burn off before I head into the hospital.”
I nodded and followed him, then caught up and slipped my hand through his arm. I felt his muscular bicep and thought maybe, just maybe, he could do something more than talk, more than words—maybe he could do something drastic, like he said.
I didn’t want it to go that far. I hoped Dante would take the money and make everything disappear, but I had a feeling we wouldn’t be so lucky.
No matter what happened, I needed Gavin to make it through.
Otherwise, I didn’t know how I could live with myself.
19
Gavin
The town car dropped us off outside of Sofitel, a fancy boutique hotel right in the heart of the city. I got out and walked around to the other side and opened the door for Erica.
She stepped out in a long, navy blue dress, the top swooping down low, the skirt straight and clinging to her body. She looked incredible with her hair done, her lips pink and fresh, her eyes bright and gorgeous—though she didn’t smile when I offered her my arm.
Things had been strained between us for the past two days, ever since the meeting with Dante. She didn’t want to talk about it and I hadn’t had time to push her too hard. Things at the hospital were busy, and I found myself staying there late and heading over early, and leaving her alone for long hours.
The life of a doctor’s wife.
We swept into the hotel and I spotted several doctors clustered over near the lobby bar. “Don’t let these guys ruffle you,” I said, leaning toward her.
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve never brought a date to one of these before.”
“You think your doctor friends are going to give you a hard time?”
I hesitated and shrugged. “Pretty much.”
“They’re assholes then.”
I laughed and turned to her, taking her hands in mine. She looked up at me and I could see the anger and the tension in her expression. I wanted to touch her cheek or maybe even pull her against me and kiss her, but I was afraid of how she’d react.
We were in public now, and I couldn’t have her freaking out. Every few months, the hospital threw fundraiser balls for the wealthiest men and women in the city, along with some of the more important power brokers. Mercy General expected all its up-and-coming doctors to show up, shake hands, smile, and push for as many big donations as possible. It was my least favorite part of the job, and I resented the way the Mercy administrators used its doctors like we were some kind of celebrities getting paid to push dick pills. I was a doctor, my job was to help people, to heal sick people when possible, and I didn’t like shaking hands and smiling and trying to talk up how much we needed another machine for the Radiology Department.
But maybe it wouldn’t be so bad with Erica on my arm. She looked damn good, and it did feel nice to have her as company, even if she hadn’t been exactly all over me lately. Maybe that was my fault, maybe I shouldn’t have brought her with me to that meeting. I thought she’d want to be there and know what was going on, but maybe it would be better if I left her in the dark until I fixed things.
“They’re immature assholes,” I said, “but they’re still my peers. So try to get along, okay?”
“I’ll do my best, darling.” She gave me a big, fake smile.
“That’s my pretty little wife. Now, I’m going to kiss you.”
“Oh, are you? Is that part of the plan?”
“The plan is to get you nice and drunk then take you up to the room I rented for tonight.”
She let out a snort. “You perv.”
“You love it. Now, come here.” I pulled her close and gave her a short and tasteful kiss, lingering just a second or two longer than necessary before pulling back. “There. Not so bad.”
“Not for you, maybe.” She laughed and pushed me away then took my hand in hers. “Come on, big boy. Get me something to drink. You’d better start now if you want a chance to get me up to that room of yours.”
I grinned at her and tugged her over to the bar.
Four men stood gathered in a loose group. I spotted Dean and nodded to him as we approached. The others turned, and I got a range of looks, some of them happy to see me, and at least one skeptical frown. These were the four youngest doctors in the hospital, the four men I came up with. We were both rivals and friends, and we spent a lot of time pushing each other, making jokes, and working together to save as many lives as we could.
Brian Prestige shook my hand. “Gavin, I wondered when you’d show up.” He smiled at Erica. “Is this the wife?”
“Erica, this is Brian.” I gestured at him then pointed to the tall, blond, blue-eyed man next to him. “And that’s Wayne Castle. And the quiet one down there is Dean Coarse. Last but not least, we have Richard Foster.”
“Hello there,” Richard said, still looking skeptical. He was tall, dark hair, dark eyes, all smiles and cocky laughter. “I halfway thought you didn’t exist.”
“We figured he was bringing a life-sized pillow with him tonight,” Wayne said.
“Pillow? I thought it would be an anatomically accurate doll,” Brian said. “You know, one of the ones you can—”
“We don’t need details of your sex life, Brian,” I said.
Erica laughed and leaned against me. “I’m very much real and it’s nice to meet you all. I wish I could say I’ve heard good things, but—” She shrugged.
Dean laughed and waved her over. “Let me get you a drink. What do you like?”
“Champagne, please, if you’re buying.”
“Oh, I like her,” Brian said.
I waved down the bartender, ordered a whiskey, and watched as Erica spent the next ten minutes laughing and listening to the same old stories I’d heard a thousand times, like the one about the patient we all thought was dead—until he sat up and screamed. There were a million stories like that, funny and sad, tragic and hilarious, and these guys loved to tell them over, and over, and over again.
I got along best with Dean. Then Brian and Wayne were friendly enough. Richard was a bit stranger than the others, a bit harder to get to know, and though I tried to keep things civil, sometimes he drove me fucking wild.
Fortunately, tonight he decided to keep his usually asshole comments and bad jokes to himself as he brooded over a gin and tonic.
“Tell me, what’s married life like?” Brian asked. “I’ve always wondered. You know, I’m a young, handsome doctor, so being single just seems like a good idea.”
“He’s asking you how you can stand to be with one woman for more than a night or two at a time,” Wayne said, laughing.
I glanced at Erica. She seemed immersed in whatever Dean was saying and didn’t hear them being douchebags.
